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{
    "id": 565531,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/565531/?format=api",
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    "content": "Garissa Training College. The Senate raised the following supplementary questions after I had given an earlier Statement:- (1) State the specific measures that the national Government is undertaking in terms of enhancing surveillance in learning institutions. (2) Explain the fate of students who were not willing to go back to Garissa Teachers Training College. (3) Explain if the Government is receiving the necessary cooperation from the political leaders in the region in addressing these concerns. (4) State what the Ministry has done to ensure that all other learning institutions that were closed due to security concerns are reopened. I beg to reply that the national Government is working closely with the security organs in all counties to ensure that all learning institutions are provided with adequate security day and night. The county security teams have been addressing students where threats have been reported and assuring them of security. The Ministry has also advised learning institutions to initiate basic security arrangements such as fencing, reinforcing the gates, employing watchmen and hiring security guards from private security firms and convening parents’ and stakeholders’ meetings so as to device ways of assisting the institutions address the security concerns. Secondly, the Ministry is compiling a list of students who are not willing to go back to Garissa Teachers Training College. Consultations will be held with stakeholders and decisions made by the Ministry on the way forward. So far, 16 students have registered and are categorical that they will not go back to the college. By Tuesday, 26th May, 2015, there were 200 students and 10 teachers in the college and learning was going on. However, many students started leaving the college following renewed tension in the county. The situation was aggravated by leaflets circulating in the college, warning of an impending terrorist attack on the institution by 27th May, 2015, seen to be targeting non-Muslims. Those who left on 26th May, 2015, have not yet reported to the Ministry. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the third concern, the Government has received support and cooperation from the political leaders in the region. For example, some stakeholders’ meetings have been held in the different counties in the north eastern region counties to address security concerns which have, not only affected education, but other sectors as well. In some of those meetings, they came up with recommendations and resolutions on how to address the problem affecting the education sector as a result of the security threat in the region. In answering the fourth concern, further to my response, to questions (1) and (3) above, the Ministry will continue liaising with the national Government, county commissioners and other security organs in the counties to ensure security in all learning institutions. The Ministry has also issued a circular letter dated, April 2015 to all principals and head teachers to make adequate security arrangements in their schools. They should have the contacts of the county commissioners and county security commanders within their respective counties to reach them anytime that there is need for consultation or reporting cases of security scare. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}